Interviewing for new HVEDC chief to begin

NEW WINDSOR — Interviews of candidates to replace Michael Oates as president and CEO of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp. are to begin next week.

James Walsh

NEW WINDSOR — Interviews of candidates to replace Michael Oates as president and CEO of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp. are to begin next week.

Oates announced last week he was resigning Feb. 4 to become CEO of Hudson River Ventures, a small-business investment firm. The announcement gave potential candidates only until Wednesday to send resumes to Oates, but he said on Wednesday that HVEDC earlier used social media as well as its business contacts to spread word of the opening.

The interviewers will be Oates, Steven Lant, chairman of HVEDC and CEO of Central Hudson, and James O'Donnell, executive director of the Orange County Industrial Development Agency.

The IDA oversees Orange County's Business Accelerator, which it hired HVEDC to manage. O'Donnell, who's also deputy county executive, said he expected interviews to continue through the end of the month.

Oates' departure from HVEDC comes less than four months after it began managing the accelerator, an incubator for small businesses. Oates was appointed managing director by the IDA with a $72,000 annual contract through Dec. 31.

IDA Chairman Robert Armistead said Wednesday that O'Donnell will oversee the accelerator until Oates is replaced.